Tag: AFM

Physical properties of the cancer cell microenvironment

7 Jan 2020

Physical properties of the cancer microenvironment play important roles in promoting cell invasive phenotypes and can constitute an obstacle for therapy accessibility. We aim at analyzing how biomechanics impact the formation and progression of cancer by measuring physical properties of cancer cells and tissues, using AFM (force spectroscopy and force mapping). Mechanical properties of colorectal … More Physical properties of the cancer cell microenvironment

Probing lipid-protein interaction using artificial membranes

16 Dec 2019

Our recognition in the field of imaging of lateral organization of planar artificial membranes by AFM initiated 2 other projects in the field of membrane homeostasis and remodeling. In collaboration with A. Bertin and D. Levy, we investigated septin,  a cytoskeleton-like protein important for membrane reshaping in a large spectrum of cellular processes. We analyzed … More Probing lipid-protein interaction using artificial membranes

Organization of tetraspanin assemblies

16 Dec 2019

Tetraspanins are ubiquitously expressed at the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells and are associated to membrane remodeling through the formation of a dynamic network of protein-protein-lipid interactions. As membrane organizers, they interact dynamically with other membrane proteins such as members of the Ig superfamily (EWI) or integrins. Tetraspanins are key proteins during infection and cancer. … More Organization of tetraspanin assemblies

AFM/ Superresolution correlative microscopies

11 Dec 2019

The instrumental efforts produced by the team are moving towards the development of correlative, simultaneous and fast scan AFM-fluorescence operational schemes. We are taking benefits from recent development from the JPK AFM company to push towards fast imaging and we can currently image membranes remodeling processes with nm resolution by AFM at one frame/s simultaneously … More AFM/ Superresolution correlative microscopies

Structural insigths into tetraspanins action

30 Oct 2019

I n the recent years, we produced insights in the role of tetraspanin in membrane organization in cells using a combination of AFM and single molecule fluorescence microscopies. It now appears necessary to obtain structural information at high resolution to understand the molecular function of these proteins. The first 3D structure of a tetraspanin (CD81) … More Structural insigths into tetraspanins action

The assembly of the nuclear pore complex (NPC)

30 Oct 2019

We investigate the assembly of nuclear pore complexes (NPC) during interphase. It involves a sequence of events, highly coordinated in time and space, with a complex interplay between membrane remodeling, and protein assembly. We had shown that a membrane curvature sensing motif participates in this coordination. We then deciphered the physico-chemical determinants driving the specificity … More The assembly of the nuclear pore complex (NPC)